Known as the place to pick up your meds along with those “few extra things,” drug stores are now exerting extra effort to compete with online retail giants, accommodate consumers’ growing health needs and demands, and leveraging technology to enhance their offerings.

As part of Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin's ongoing efforts to protect customers and restaurant employees in light of the COVID-19 health crisis, all U.S. restaurants are limiting service to drive-thru ordering, carryout, and delivery only. These restrictions took effect March 17.   

Alcohol brands including Bacardi, Jackson Family Wines and Francis Ford Coppola Winery are partnering with digital meal planning service eMeals, Birmingham, Ala., to build online and digitally influenced grocery revenues. Strategies include menu pairings that place branded wine, beer and spirits recommendations as options on the weekly eMeals shopping list.

Lower-middle-market private equity firm Huron Capital announced that its platform company Ronnoco Beverage Solutions, a manufacturer and distributor of premium quality coffee, tea and related products, has acquired Trident Beverage, a provider of high-quality beverages and dispensing products for a variety of foodservice establishments.

Centerplate, Stamford, Conn.; Ball Corp., Broomfield, Colo.; and Bud Light, a brand of St. Louis-based Anheuser Busch, announced an agreement to bring Ball's infinitely recyclable aluminum cups to guests at Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' is ringing in the New Year with the return of two popular coffee flavors inspired by iconic Girl Scout Cookies. Under a licensing agreement with GSUSA, Dunkin' will bring back Coconut Caramel and Thin Mints inspired coffee flavors. The flavors will be available Jan. 1 through the beginning of spring 2020 at participating Dunkin' restaurants nationwide.

The latest consumer data from New York-based Nielsen CGA has revealed that Thanksgiving is the most valuable annual occasion for still wine, providing ample opportunity for local bars and restaurants expecting an influx of hometown consumers this week, it says. Wine outperforms spirits, beer, cocktails and soft drinks in that 39 percent of U.S. consumers choose to drink wine when out-of-home during the Thanksgiving period, with significant opportunity for wine-led bars as well as specific dining channels where wine and food pairings are key.